Pure and Pr-doped Ce4W9O33 with superior hydroxyl scavenging ability: humidity-independent oxide chemiresistors

Water poisoning has been a long-standing problem in oxide semiconductor gas sensors. Herein, for the first time, we report that pure and Pr-doped Ce4W9O33 provide humidity-independent gas sensing characteristics. Ce4W9O33 and Pr-doped Ce4W9O33 powders with a porous structure have been successfully prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and subsequent annealing at low temperature (600 °C). Interestingly, these p-type oxide semiconductors exhibited nearly the same gas sensing characteristics at 300 °C regardless of humidity variation, whereas pure WO3 showed a significant decrease of sensor resistance and gas response when the atmosphere is changed from dry to relative humidity 80%. Furthermore, Ce4W9O33-based sensors showed highly selective and sensitive detection of ppm-level trimethylamine (TMA). Moisture-endurant gas sensing characteristics were discussed in relation to surface regeneration through the hydroxyl scavenging reaction assisted by abundant Ln3+ (Ln = Ce, Pr) in (Ce1−xPrx)4W9O33 (x = 0–0.3) and TMA selectivity was explained by the acid–base interaction between the analyte gas and sensing material. Phase-pure ternary or quaternary oxides with a decreased oxidation state of lanthanide components provide a new and general strategy to design humidity-independent gas sensors with new functionality.